Japan's Morinari Watanabe elected President of International Gymnastics Federation

Japan's Morinari Watanabe elected President of International Gymnastics Federation Japan's Morinari Watanabe on 20 October 2016 was elected the new President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Watanabe emerged victorious in the election after defeating rival candidate Georges Guelzec of France by a huge margin in a vote at the governing body's Congress. Watanabe, who is the secretary-general of Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA), won 100 of the 119 votes. Guelzec, the head of the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG), received a mere 19 votes. With this, Watanabe became the ninth President of the FIG since it was established in 1881.  He will succeed Bruno Grandi, who had held the position for 20 years. Watanabe is due to officially take charge on 1 January 2016. About International Federation of Gymnastics • The International Federation of Gymnastics is the governing body of competitive gymnastics. • It is headquartered is in Lausanne, Switzerland. • It was founded on 23 July 1881, in Liege, Belgium. • It is the world's oldest existing international sports organisation. • It was originally called the European Federation of Gymnastics. • It had three member countries, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, until 1921, when non-European countries were admitted and it received its current name. • The federation sets the rules, known as the Code of Points, that regulate how gymnasts' performances are evaluated. • Six gymnastics disciplines are governed by the FIG. They are artistic gymnastics, further classified as men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) and women's artistic gymnastics (WAG), rhythmic gymnastics (RG), aerobic gymnastics (AER), acrobatic gymnastics (ACRO) and trampolining (TRA). • The federation is also responsible for determining whether gymnasts are old enough to participate in the Olympics.

Milan confers honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama

Milan confers honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama The Milan city council on 20 October 2016 bestowed honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama. However, China has strongly opposed another award given to him. Lamberto Bertole, Chairman of the Council of Milan, honoured the Dalai Lama with the Milan Honorary Citizenship award at a ceremony held at the Arcimboldi Theatre in Milan, Italy.  About Dalai Lama • The 14th Dalai Lama is the current Dalai Lama. • Dalai Lamas are important monks of the Gelug school, the newest school of Tibetan Buddhism, which is nominally headed by the Ganden Tripas. • From the time of the 5th Dalai Lama to 1959, the central government of Tibet, the Ganden Phodrang, invested the position of Dalai Lama with temporal duties. • The 14th Dalai Lama was born in Taktser village, Amdo, Tibet. • He was selected as the tulku of the 13th Dalai Lama in 1937 and formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama at a public declaration near the town of Bumchen in 1939. • His enthronement ceremony as the Dalai Lama was held in Lhasa on 22 February 1940. • He eventually assumed full temporal duties on 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, after China's invasion of Tibet. • During the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama fled to India, where he currently lives as a refugee. • The 14th Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

Police Commemoration Day observed across India Police Commemoration Day

Police Commemoration Day observed across India Police Commemoration Day: 21 October The Police Commemoration Day was observed on 21 October 2016 across India. The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten policemen while defending the borders with China in 1959. Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid wreath and paid homage to the police martyrs at Police Memorial Ground, Chanakyapuri in Delhi. Background • On 21 October 1959, Chinese Army personnel opened fire and threw grenades at the police party of 20 personnel. • Ten of them died, seven were taken prisoners by the Chinese and the remaining managed to escape. • The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that 21 October will be observed as Commemoration Day in all Police Lines throughout India to mark the memory of these gallant personnel. • Since 1961, more than 33000 police personnel have sacrificed their lives for security of the nation and service to the society.

Union Government to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each district

Union Government to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each district Union Government in October 2016 decided to establish at least one Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each of the districts in country. These Kendra’s will be developed to provide technical assistance to farmers. The decision was announced by the Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh while interacting via video conference with all the Krishi Vigyan Kendra experts, district level officers associated with agriculture development and progressive farmers of 12 States. Besides, he Singh also called upon the farmers to use the residual husk after paddy farming to make organic fertilizer, in paper making and card-board industry and as animal feed. The Minister said this will prevent the adverse effect of husk burning on the environment.

Tweetcast to predict vote in upcoming US Presidential elections

Tweetcast to predict vote in upcoming US Presidential elections An online tool, TweetCast, can predict whether citizens will vote for Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton in the upcoming US Presidential elections has been developed. The tool was developed by researchers of Northwestern University in the US. TweetCast uses a machine-learning algorithm to examine words, hashtags, tagged usernames and mentioned websites to uncover which terms are most predictive of voting preference. TweetCast • The tool was designed by Larry Birnbaum, a professor of computer science in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and his students. • It can also predict which party will dominate a particular state in the November 8 elections. • As per the algorithm, tweet words "lying," "liberal," and "illegal" indicates a vote for Republican candidate Trump. • On the other hand, using the words "single," "humanity," and "rights", predicts a vote for Democratic rival Clinton. • The algorithm was trained on Twitter users who have publicly declared support for one of the two candidates. • Researchers said that 'TweetCast' has a prediction accuracy of over 80 per cent.

Indian football team achieves highest FIFA ranking in six years

Indian football team achieves highest FIFA ranking in six years The Indian football team on 20 October 2016 achieved its best FIFA ranking in over six years. The team jumped 11 placed to be 137th in the latest list. India, who defeated 114th ranked Puerto Rico in an International Friendly in Mumbai in September 2016, garnered 230 points for the month. In August 2010, India were ranked 137th which stayed India’s best ever FIFA Ranking since then. The Indian team was ranked 171st in February 2015 and slipped to 173rd in March 2015. At present, Argentina tops the FIFA World Rankings, followed by Germany and Brazil. About FIFA World Rankings • The FIFA World Ranking is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football. • The teams of the member nations of FIFA are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. • The rankings were introduced in December 1992, and eight teams (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain) have held the top position, of which Brazil have spent longest ranked first. • A points system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of all FIFA-recognised full international matches. • The ranking system was most recently revamped after the 2006 World Cup, with the first edition of the new series of rankings issued on 12 July 2006. The most significant change is that the rankings are now based on results over the previous four years instead of the previous eight year

SC freezes BCCI's financial transactions

SC freezes BCCI's financial transactions Supreme Court on 21 October 2016 froze all financial transactions between the BCCI and state cricket associations. The apex court directed the apex cricket body not to disburse any funds, even for the match purposes, till BCCI resolved to abide by Justice RM Lodha panel recommendations. A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur asked Lodha panel to appoint independent auditors to scrutinize all BCCI accounts. The judgment also directed the Lodha panel to ask the auditors to scrutinize the high-value contracts provided by BCCI. Justice RM Lodha Committee submitted its report to Supreme Court The apex court also directed BCCI president Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke to give undertaking on affidavit, before the Lodha panel and apex court by 3 December 2016, stating how much time they would need to implement reforms. Highlights of the Decision • It directed the Lodha panel to ask the auditors to scrutinise the high-value contracts given by BCCI and also fix a ceiling of high-value contracts involving media rights.  • It asked the Ladha panel’s secretary to send a copy of the apex court order to the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.

Current Affairs One liner of the Day: 21 October 2016

brings for its reader daily updated quizzes that cover the topics like honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama, SBI’s 5th zone in North-East India and book The Adivasi Will Not Dance among others. 1.    Which of the following cities recently bestowed honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama? a)    Rome b)    Venice c)    Milan d)    Sicily 2.    Who of the following was recently elected as the President of the International Gymnastics Federation? a)    Georges Guelzec b)    Morinari Watanabe c)    Bruno Grandi d)    Vasily Titov 3.    Who was appointed as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala? a)    Vice Admiral S V Bhokare b)    Vice Admiral S V Bhosle c)    Vice Admiral Karambir Singh d)    Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar 4.    When is the Police Commemoration Day observed? a)    20 October b)    19 October c)    21 October d)    15 October 5.    The State Bank of India (SBI) declared its 5th zone in North-East India. Name the place where this zone is located. a)    Guwahati b)    Shillong c)    Dibrugarh d)    Silchar 6.    Name the Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) that was commissioned by Indian Navy in the third week of October 2016. a)    INS Tihayu b)    INS Chakra c)    INS Kalvari d)    INS Kursura 7.    Satyadev Katare recently passed away. Who was he? a)    Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly b)    A Gandhian activist c)    An artist d)    None of the above 8.    Who is the author of the book titled The Adivasi Will Not Dance? a)    Kiran Doshi b)    Kunal Basu c)    Manjula Padmanabhan d)    Hansda Sowendra Shekhar 9.    Identify the well-known Gandhian activist, who passed away recently. a)    Eqbal Ahmad b)    Uri Avnery c)    Joan Baez d)    Mewa Ramgobin 10.    Who of the following is the author of the book The Sleepwalker's Dream? a)    Amitav Ghosh b)    Dhrubajyoti Borah c)    Ramachandra Guha d)    Margaret Alva 11.    Name the country that along with the United States imposed sanctions on alleged Hezbollah members and financial backers. a)    Saudi Arabia b)    Israel c)    Japan d)    Iraq 12.    Who of the following has authored the book Andhere Se Ujale Ki Aur that was released in October 2016? a)    Swapan Das Gupta b)    Amit Shah c)    Arun Jaitley d)    Madhu Dandavate 13.    Name the country that will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men. a)    China b)    Russia c)    The United States of America d)    The United Kingdom 14.    India was ranked at what position in the FIFA ranking that was released on 20 October 2016? a)    146 b)    137 c)    123 d)    121 15.    Name the cloud service firm that will be acquired by Wipro Limited? a)    Concur Technologies b)    Taleo c)    Appirio d)    Success Factors ANSWER 1. (c) Milan 2. (b) Morinari Watanabe 3. (a) Vice Admiral S V Bhokare 4. (c) 21 October 5. (d) Silchar 6. (a) INS Tihayu 7. (a) Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly 8. (d) Hansda Sowendra Shekhar 9. (d) Mewa Ramgobin 10. (b) Dhrubajyoti Borah 11. (a) Saudi Arabia 12. (c) Arun Jaitley 13. (d) The United Kingdom 14. (b) 137 15. (c) Appirio

Current Affairs One liner of the Day: 21 October 2016

Current Affairs One liner of the Day: 21 October 2016 The one liner of the day covers important current affairs of the day like FIFA ranking, country to posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men and book The Sleepwalker's Dream among others. •    India’s rank in the FIFA ranking that was released on 20 October 2016 is - 137 •    Country that will posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men is - The United Kingdom •    An online tool that was developed by scientists that can predict whether citizens will vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in the upcoming US Presidential elections is - 'Tweetcast' •    The Police Commemoration Day is observed on - 21 October •    Vice Admiral S V Bhokare was recently appointed as the Commandant of the -Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala •    The secretary-general of Japan Gymnastics Association elected as the President of the International Gymnastics Federation is - Morinari Watanabe •    The city that recently bestowed honorary citizenship on Dalai Lama is - Milan •    The well-known Gandhian activist, who passed away recently, is - Mewa Ramgobin •    The author of the book titled The Adivasi Will Not Dance is - Hansda Sowendra Shekhar •    Satyadev Katare recently passed away. He was - Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly •    He is the authored the book Andhere Se Ujale Ki Aur that - Arun Jaitley •    The country that along with the United States imposed sanctions on alleged Hezbollah members and financial backers is – Saudi Arabia •    Author of the book, The Sleepwalker's Dream is - Dhrubajyoti Borah, the President of Asam Sahitya Sabha •    The State Bank of India (SBI) on 20 October 2016 declared Silchar as its 5th zone in North-East India to cater to the banking needs of the people of - Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur along with the Barak Valley •    The first ever global conference to strengthen Arbitration and Enforcement in India began in - New Delhi •    Typhoon that killed at least four people in Philippines after lashing the country is - Super Typhoon Haima

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

92 percent of world’s population is breathing unhealthy air: WHO World Health Organization (WHO) on 27 September 2016 released its report on pollution, which is extremely worrying. The report claims that 92 percent of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. This mean, 9 out of 10 people globally are breathing poor quality air. Maria Neira, head of the WHO's department of public health and environment, termed the report as a 'public health emergency'. She also urged governments to take up measures like cutting the number of vehicles on the road, improving waste management and promotion of clean cooking fuel. The WHO report is based on data collected from more than 3000 sites across the globe. According to the report, poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world. Green Peace India released report on National Air Quality Index of 17 cities How the report was made? The report is based on WHO’s new air quality model that is based on data derived from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors. The model was developed by WHO in collaboration with the University of Bath, United Kingdom. Air pollution’s toll on human health Some 3 million deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can be just as deadly. In 2012, an estimated 6.5 million deaths (11.6% of all global deaths) were associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution together. Nearly 90 percent of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions. WHO says that 94 percent are due to non-communicable diseases – notably cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risks for acute respiratory infections. Sources of air pollution Major sources of air pollution include inefficient modes of transport, household fuel and waste burning, coal-fired power plants, and industrial activities. However, not all air pollution originates from human activity. For example, air quality can also be influenced by dust storms, particularly in regions close to deserts.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

Tamil Nadu tops list of endemic flowering plants Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the last week of September 2016 announced that almost one of every four species of flowering plants found in India is endemic to the country. Of these, Tamil Nadu garners the highest number of species with 410. Tamil Nadu is followed by Kerala with 357 and Maharashtra with 278. Key highlights • As per scientific data in a recently released book, Endemic Vascular Plants of India, of the 18259 flowering plants reported in the country, 4303 are found only in India. • When it comes to the geographical distribution of endemic plants, the Western Ghats tops the list with about 2116 species, followed by the Eastern Himalayas with 466 species. • At least 37 species of Black plum Syzyguim (Jamun), 10 varieties of Musa (banana), along with 274 species of orchids are found only in India. • Four different varieties of roses, two herbs and two climbers and 12 species of jasmines are exclusively found in India. • When it comes to spices, 45 species belong to the common black pepper family, 19 species of ginger and 13 different kinds of large cardamom. • There are also 40 species of bamboos, which are endemic to India. • Further some of these endemic species are restricted to only certain areas of the country, like Nepenthes khasiana, an insectivorous plant only found in the Khasi hills of Meghalaya. • A total of 58 generea of flowering plants have been found to be endemic to India. • As far as endemism regarding vascular plants in India is concerned, the publication reveals that of the 19635 vascular plants found in the country, 4381 are endemic. This includes 4303 angiosperms or flowering plants, 12 gymnosperms and 66 ferns and fern allies which come under the group Pteridophytes. • Among the most widely exploited endemic plants in country is Pterocarpus santalinus, commonly known as red sandal wood, which is found only in the southern parts of the Eastern Ghats. This plant is classified as critically endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category. About Botanical Survey of India • The Botanical Survey of India is an institution set up by the Government of India in 1890 to survey the plant resources of the Indian empire. • The Botanical Survey was formally instituted on 13 February 1890 under the direction of Sir George King, who had been superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta since 1871. • King was the first ex-officio Director of BSI.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

New species of Pika discovered in the Sikkim Himalayas Researchers at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru have recently identified a new species of Pika named Ochotona sikimaria high up in the Sikkim Himalayas. The Findings were published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution as a paper titled Genetics, morphology and ecology reveal a cryptic Pika lineage in the Sikkim Himalaya on 15 September 2016. The team of researchers including Dr Uma Ramakrishnan and her collaborators probed the genetic origins of the little mammal Pika to discover an entirely new lineage, with a unique evolutionary past. Highlights of the Study • Researchers used genetic tools in order to understand the origin and evolution of the Pika species commonly found in the Sikkim Himalayas and worked with Pika droppings to obtain DNA samples. • By comparing DNA sequences from these samples with those of commonly known Pika sequences from across the world, they concluded that there were clear differences. • Gaining a deeper understanding of the evolutionary history of this species, the researchers chose to compare the Sikkim Pika to its close relatives in China. • This analysis confirmed the fact that the new species is indeed distinct and not merely a subspecies of the Moupin Pika, as was previously believed. • Multiple lines of evidence, including genetics, ecology and morphometrics, were used clarify the origins of the Sikkim Pika and to establish that it is indeed a distinct species. About Pikas • Pikas are members of the rabbit family and live either high up in the mountains or in cold (temperate) places as they are highly cold-adapted. • This feature of their biology makes them sensitive to habitat loss from increasing global temperature. • The majority of Pika species described to date are of Asian origin. • Pikas are particularly important because they are considered indicators of climate change based on studies in North America. • Unlike other mammalian species inhabiting such harsh environments, Pikas do not hibernate. • They prepare for winter by collecting and storing hay piles for their winter food.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

India ratifies historic Paris Climate Agreement India on 2 October 2016 ratified historic Paris Agreement on climate change, giving a significant push for the deal to enter into force by the end 2016. The agreement is expected to give momentum to implementation of measures at international level to control global warming. India, the world's fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounts for 4.1 per cent of the emissions. China and the US is the biggest carbon emitter and are jointly responsible for around 40 per cent of the global carbon emissions. COP 21 under UNFCCC adopted Paris Agreement on Climate Change With India's move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions, have ratified the accord. The pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee, to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN in a special ceremony in New York. The ceremony was attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s birth anniversary is observed as an International Day of Non-violence. Union Cabinet approves ratification of Paris Agreement In total, the 62 countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement account for about 51.89 per cent of the global gas emissions. This means for adoption, the agreement needs slightly more than 3 percent to reach the 55 per cent threshold. UN says that at least 14 other countries that together contribute about 12 per cent of global emissions have committed to ratify the pact before end of 2016. Earlier in September 2016, the US and China had formally ratified the Paris agreement, which was adopted by 195 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change last December in Paris. On the other hand, it is expected that the European Union and Russia, the other two among the top five emitters, will ratify the agreement soon. Paris Agreement • It was adopted by more than 190 countries at the 21st Conference of Parties of UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) held in Paris in December 2015. • It seeks to encourage global action to reduce greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This would help in preventing catastrophic effects of climate change. • It seeks to give a momentum to actions being taken to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and raise financial and technological resources to do so. • Initially, the Paris Agreement supposed to come into operation by 2020, the year when the existing Kyoto Protocol, the international arrangement to deal with climate change, expires. But later, the deadline was dropped and it will come into force after 30-days after the minimum ratifications are over. • For few years, the Paris Agreement as well as the Kyoto Protocol would exist side by side.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

New frog species named Litoria Bella discovered in Australia A new frog species named Cape York graceful tree frog, scientifically known as Litoria Bella, was discovered recently in Australia’s largest virgin forest in Queensland. The study was published in the journal Zootaxa on 27 September 2016. The newly discovered species closely resembles the Graceful tree frog (Litoria Gracilenta). The research and discovery was done by Dr Jodi Rowley, a curator of amphibian and reptile conservation biology at the Australian Museum, along with scientists Keith McDonald, Stephen Richards and Greta Frankham. Highlights of the Cape York graceful tree frog or Litoria Bella • The Cape York Graceful Treefrog is known from between Moa Island in the Torres Strait in the north, to about 20 km south of Coen on the Cape York Peninsula in the south. • The southern-most location of the new species is separated by 220 km from the most northern record of the Graceful Treefrog in the Endeavour Valley near Cooktown. • The Cape York Graceful frogs have a near-immaculate green dorsum, bright orange digits, bluish purple thighs and white bones. • They also measure about four centimetres long, which is considered big for the species. • They spend most of their time in the tree canopy and come down to ponds when it rains or during breeding season. • The species was thought to occur all the way from north-eastern New South Wales to northern Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. The Study • One of the researchers from the team Keith McDonald from the Queensland museum had first laid eyes on this Cape York tree frog in 2000 during one of his field-work outings. • However, the frog was determined to be a new species on 27 September 2016 after undergoing rigorous tests for a year. • By looking at differences in its appearance, as well as its advertisement call and DNA, it was concluded that the Cape York Graceful Tree frog is a distinct species, bringing the number of known frog species in Australia to 239.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

Hurricane Matthew Death toll mounts to 300 in Haiti Hurricane Matthew after claiming lives of at least 300 people in the Caribbean nation Haiti lashed Florida with winds of 125 mph on 7 October 2016. More than two million people were evacuated from the coastal areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. North Carolina could also be affected as the storm moves north. President Barack Obama on 6 October 2016 declared a federal state of emergency in Florida as Hurricane Matthew's powerful winds began to be felt along the state's southeast coast. Hurricane Matthew that made its landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016 with raging winds and storm leveled 80 percent of buildings in the peninsula’s main city, Jeremie. In Sud province 30000 homes were destroyed. The region's strongest storm in almost a decade made landfall on Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 mph. Haiti Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is already struggling to regain its footing almost seven years after an earthquake and ensuing cholera epidemic ravaged the nation. It is one of the most deforested countries in the world. The country is located on the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. With an estimated 10.6 million people, Haiti is the most populous country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the second-most populous country in the Caribbean as a whole.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

ASI protected historical monuments and archaeological sites declared polythene free zones All Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected historical monuments and archaeological sites on 6 October 2016 were declared Polythene Free Zones. An advisory has been issued to all State Governments/UTs to support ASI in keeping Monuments Polythene Free up to 300 meters from the protected boundaries of the monuments. In addition, Ministry of Culture sanctioned 350 crores rupees to provide facilities like Protected Boundaries, Toilets and Disabled Friendly Access in all ASI Protected Monuments.   The ASI has ranked top 25 Adarsh Monuments on the basis of cleanliness parameters such as amenities like toilets, green lawns, Polythene Free Zone, signage for awareness, disabilities access, drinking water and provision for garbage bins and more. A World Heritage site Rani ki Vav in Gujarat has been declared as the cleanest iconic place in India. About Rani ki Vav • Rani ki vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat. • It is located on the banks of Saraswati River. • It was built as a memorial to an 11th century AD king. • It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014. • It was built in the complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style with an inverted temple and seven levels of stairs and holds more than 500 principle sculptures.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

New termite species named Chiraharitae discovered A new termite species, Glyptotermes Chiraharitae, was discovered at Kakkayam in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. The species has been named Chiraharitae after the tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, where it was discovered. The research paper describing the new species was published last week in Zoosystema, the journal of Natural History Museum, Paris. About the newly discovered species • Termites are of three types: damp wood, dry wood and subterranean. Glyptotermes Chiraharitae species are of the damp wood category. • Chiraharitae infest parts of woods with high moisture content, the decaying or rotting areas in particular. • They are exclusively wood dwelling and do not require any contact with soil. • The flying adults of this species are approximately 10 mm long, while the soldiers are around 9.5 mm long. • Its relatives are known to attack mango, sal, Rhododendron, banyan trees, Artocarpus, silver oak, and jamun trees. • In India, there 285 species of termites and among them 61 are documented from Kerala.